Kent Messner is a ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œTeacher of the YearÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â winner at Margaret Allen Middle School. He is also active in coaching of youth soccer teams and raising two children with his wife Becca. He took some time to talk about his memories of Lipscomb with Lipscombsports.com.

What sport(s) did you play at Lipscomb? What years? Who were your coaches?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ÂI played soccer in 1995 and 1996. The program was discontinued for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The head coach was Eddie Long, and Charles Morrow was the assistant.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

What is your fondest athletic memory at Lipscomb?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ÂMy fondest memory was the feeling after our first victory of the 1996 season. After being winless in 1995, we didn't know what to do with ourselves when we won. The postgame celebration on the field was priceless. We finished with five wins that season. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œ

Who had the biggest influence on you during your athletic career at Lipscomb? How?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ÂChris Witte, the goalkeeper from 1994 to 1996, had the biggest influence on me. He helped me see that you could work hard and have fun at the same time. One of my favorite activities was creating posters to get people to come to our games my sophomore year. His memory and all the great times we had live on for me and all of my teammates.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

What is your fondest non-athletic memory from your time at Lipscomb?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚ÂI have many great non-athletic memories, such as being in a social club, some great concerts, and a Maymester on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œMy fondest non-athletic memory, though, was directing Singarama in 1997 and 1998. I enjoyed working with lots of people and creating an entertaining show (if you like ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œPirates or the Great DepressionÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â). And it didnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t hurt that my choreographer was hot.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

What is the most valuable thing you gained or learned from your time at Lipscomb?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI learned that great friends are one of the most important possessions you can have. Most of my family's best friendships have come from my time at Lipscomb. I feel lucky to count Charles Morrow (present men's soccer coach) and Jim Maddux (the previous men's soccer coach) among my good friends. They both have gotten me some good coaching gigs.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

Who was your favorite professor? Why?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI was fortunate to have lots of great professors, but Wayne Garrett was my favorite professor at Lipscomb. He was the advisor to my social club, Delta Tau. He was wise, patient, and taught a mean World Lit class. I also need to give a shout-out to Paul Prill, who married me to my choreographer.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

Where do you live now?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI have lived in Nashville since I graduated in 1999. My family and I currently live in south Nashville.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â

Who is your employer? What is your occupation? What does your position entail?

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI teach 5th grade at Margaret Allen Middle School in Metro Nashville Public Schools. This year I teach math and science, and I also coach the girls and boys soccer teams. Both teams made the City Tournament this past season. I have taught in Metro since January of 2000.

Tell us about your family.

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI am married to Becca Horn Messner. We have two children, Tate (10) and Phin (4). Both boys play soccer, and they love watching the Lipscomb soccer and basketball teams. My brother-in-law is Shaun Senters (men's basketball assistant) who married my sister, Katie Senters. Our favorite family activity is our annual beach trip with Beth and Charles Morrow and their sons, Trip and Will.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â